DIY Baby Clothes Bouquet

I just love new friends. Especially when they are the kind of people you can sit down with over lunch and leave feeling like you've known them a whole lot longer than an hour. My latest addition in the friend department fits that bill to a T. Her name is Helen...she is beautiful, sweet, and until last week very pregnant! Last week she delivered her precious little boy Luke three weeks early. I couldn't wait to pay them a little visit at the hospital but knew I couldn't arrive empty handed! I swiped this idea off of ETSY and thought I would share it with you. I love the thought of flowers, but as we all know, they don't last long. Here is a way to deliver a bouquet of blooms that will last. Start with the goods (I chose a couple of onesies, bibs, washcloths, newborn hats, and the must have a baby blanket....

You then take each item and roll it individually (keep in mind you will want enough small things to make a full bouquet). Arrange them in a flower like bunch...

Then take your baby blanket and wrap your blooms (simulating the outer paper around a bouquet of flowers)...

You could totally call it a day and deliver this as is, but I added a few finishing touches in the form of flowers and leaves (made of tissue and scrapbook paper)....

I also added a cute monogram to the tag (L is for LUKE!)...

Voila! The finished product...

Fun and functional I love this idea! But you know what is even cuter than a blanket wrapped bouquet?? A blanket wrapped baby...

Congratulations Helen and Ben, Luke is absolutely adorable!!

All Aboard the Birthday Express!

The excitement around here is running high because today this guy is the BIG 33...

To say that I am crazy about him is a complete understatement. We've known each other for a little over 9 years now and he continues to be my best friend and the person I enjoy being around the most. I sometimes get amused at the lengths we go to to be together. We would rather take the whole family on an outing than split up any day. Nate is an awesome husband and a devoted dad. Sunday morning he initiated a trip to Landa Park (a place he had many a memory at as a child). He was looking so forward to riding the train with our girls...

And the feeling was mutual. There is nothing the three of us would rather do...

Than hang out with this guy...

He has a way of making everything just a little bit more fun...

So with an, "All Aboard!" from the conductor...

We were off...

As we chugged around the track there were plenty of things to get excited about...

The world is a bright new place with a little engine helping the wind blow through your hair...

There were ducks to look at...

People to wave to (and share a smile with)...

And the promise of a train whistle at each railroad crossing...

I was reminded of what it is to be five...

To experience each moment to the fullest...

When your biggest care in the world is what cold treat you'll pick out from the Depot when the ride is over...

Nice choice...

Don't worry sweet Emme, your time is coming...

It was my favorite kind of day. Nate I couldn't have dreamed life better. Today on your birthday I just want you to know that you make me the happiest girl in the world. Everyday with you makes my heart happy. I love watching you with our girls and I love living this life together....

Happy Birthday Babe!

Monday Carter Edition #69~Lunch with Grandad

Today we were pretty happy that way back in 1492 Columbus shouted "Land Ho!" Thanks to his discovery Monday Carter had the day off and so did her dad (yay for the government and their willingness to take just about every holiday you've ever heard of off). We've been counting down the days to a certain someones birthday, let's just say HE (and there is only one of those in our family) will be turning the BIG 33 tomorrow (more on the birthday boy then) but today we were celebrating a bit early and had lunch with Grandad. Monday Carter spent the morning making him a craft and then they chatted over lunch about school and other important life issues. Living in Texas is the bees knees because we get to see the people we love SO much more. Hip Hip Hooray for Columbus and a little Mexican food...

Happy Monday!

A Real Winner

This past Tuesday night I, along with a few of my compadres Cayce, Helen, and Kim, saw the new movie Secretariat. I'm always up for a girls night out and thanks to Uncle John who agreed to watch my munchkin's we had a great time! BlogHer (which controls the ads to my left) provided the tickets to an early screening of the movie...




We felt a bit like celebrities having reserved seats and getting to walk right in, it made the evening all the more fun! The movie opens this Friday and I insist you see it. It's a real winner in every sense of the word.

I feel like it is so rare these days to see a movie that is heartfelt and wholesome from start to finish, but this one lives up to the challenge. It is based on the true story of Penny Tweedy Chenery (played by the beautiful Diane Lane)...

and the deep belief she has in the ability of her horse "Red" or as he is known in the racing world Secretariat...



You can't help but cheer them on as they take on those who doubt them and go against the odds...



It encourages you to dream big, I loved it and I know you will too!

Taking a Stand

Life has moments that require taking a stand. I can remember them starting as early as grade school...standing up to a bully, or maybe befriending someone that others deemed "uncool". Later it was for things I believed in or maybe taking a stand with a high school boyfriend who wanted to take things a bit "too far" if you catch my drift. As a young wife I took a stand for love following my Navy guy from duty station to duty station as he pursued his dream. And as a mother I find myself daily taking a stand for the little things...a please, a thank you, and what it means to say you are sorry.

It could be said that life is a series of stands, and a few weeks ago Emerson took her very first one! I happened to have my camera near by as she pulled up onto this table for the fist time...

There was pure joy and pride written all over her face. I can only hope that as life goes on and taking a stand gets a little harder she will have the same sense of pride for standing up for what she believes in. Way to go baby girl...this is only the beginning.

Monday Carter Edition #68~C is for Cool

Today Monday Carter was celebrating the letter "C"...

C is one of her favorite letters (I mean duh it is what her name starts with). But today we were celebrating C for a different reason. Today we were celebrating C as in C is for COOLER weather!! We are loving the fall temps when we wake up in the morning. Today was the first day it was actually cool enough for some long sleeves so that's what Monday Carter was sporting as she headed off to school. Three cheers for fall...

HiP hIp HoORaY!!

And now for a little insider information. While it may seem that I dream up my "Monday Carter" post and then take the photos to match I assure you it is quite the contrary. Carter (who has become quite fond of perusing my blog ie: she will spend a good hour looking through old posts while the song "Your So Vain" plays quietly in the background...okay the part about the song is a little overboard...but she is kinda' into herself) knows that when Monday roles around I'll be doing a post. So as she heads out the door (or at some point in the day) I say, "Hey Carter let me take a few photos of you it's Monday!" So today she throws her hands over her head and says, "How about one of me making a C?!" and then "Or this?!" as she throws her hands up in the air. It is then up to me to make some sort of rhyme or reason as to how to tie those photos into a post...and there you have it...Monday Carter 101 (everything you never wanted or needed to know!)

Bathing Beauties

Most nights you can find these little bathing beauties in our tub...

Carter has always loved the bath...

And Emme is following in her big sisters footsteps...

While they get a nice soak in the tub I thought I would share our bathroom with you (I know it's been awhile since the last "Home Tour" post, but I was enjoying sharing so thanks for indulging me).

I think bathrooms are one of the rooms in a home that can go either way, being fabulous or functional. A strictly functional bathroom is not a deal breaker in a home, but if you wind up with one that feels a little on the fabulous side it's like an added bonus. When we checked out our current digs the girls/guest bathroom was a pleasant surprise...

It is an older home, which usually means a slightly neglected and outdated bath. But much to my surprise this one had been spruced up and I loved the perfect mix of vintage and modern...

Lot's of white and aqua, with a few splashes of pink, leave things feeling airy and girly...

I also love the under the counter top open shelving, it's the perfect spot for all those little bath critters and other necessities...

I'm also a fan of using something unexpected (like a bud vase) to hold something expected (like a toothbrush) I think it spruce's things up a bit...

But my favorite things about this bathroom is the print that I knew would be right at home the second I walked in. It serves to tie everything together perfectly. I have had these goldfish for a long time but have never loved them more than I do in this cozy little room (art by Henry Matisse)...

It's a happy little place and the perfect room for munchkin's to get squeaky clean! Oh I almost forgot the fish above reminded me I wanted to introduce you to the newest member of our family, Ruby...

She loves the water just as much as Carter and Emme so she fits right in!